So, it was about 6:30 Thursday night, and I was just finishing up work. I thought about going to a movie, maybe catching Casino Royale, but I suddenly remembered that the one thing which I love to do in Prague that I have not yet done is go to the Rudolfinum concert hall! Well, I checked out the website and realized the Czech Philharmonic had a concert (BRAHMS: Concerto No. 1 in D minor for piano and orchestra B. MARTINÅ®: Overture H 345B. MARTINÅ®: Symphony No. 1). There was even a visiting pianist Garrick Ohlsson. I wasn't sure what my chances were of getting a ticket, but I thought it was worth a shot, and probably a better use of my present location than the movie theatre.
Well, in my somewhat ugly-American fashion (or perhaps a slavic Bridget Jones' way), I stopped by McDonald's to pick up a quick chicken salad, pushed it into my back pack and hopped on the metro. You see where this is going, right?
Come to find out there were plenty of seats, but I opted for the cheapest, which happened to be the orchestra section behind the Philharmonic. With ticket in hand, I exited the building and made my way to the majestic riverside where I proceeded to eat my chicken salad in the somewhat cold evening. Yes, lovely couples walking hand in hand passed by, I'm sure, wondering what on earth was the creature on the bench doing chowing down on a fall/winter evening next to Prague's premiere concert hall. Well, of course, I was eating dinner on the run. It happens to be a family trait I picked up in grade school :)
To make this long story shorter... I finished my meal and found my way to the orchestra section where I realized I had a bird's eye view of the conductor, Zdenek Macal, and the Philharmonic. Not only did I have an amazing perspective looking down on the musicians, but I also could look out on the audience and was able to capture the emotion on multiple occasions on their faces. I remember one elderly lady patting her eyes dry with a tissue. Despite the back pain I suffered not having a seat back (it was sort of the equivalent of bleacher seats in Oriole Park at Camden Yards), I was entirely enthralled by being so close to the music, caught up in the conductor's graceful moves, and passionate expression.
And, to think I almost went to the movies! The Rudolfinum is probably my favorite place in Prague; an intimate concert hall where music flows so naturally and beautifully, grasping the heart and soul of its visitors.
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